ISLAMABAD( The COW News Digital)Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to hold talks in Washington on Friday, the Foreign Office confirmed, saying bilateral ties, regional and international issues as well as India-Pakistan relationship would top the agenda.
“I can confirm that the meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, and the entire range of issues on the bilateral agenda, as well as important regional and global issues including the situation in the Middle East, and Iran will be discussed,” Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters on Thursday at the weekly briefing.
“Exchange of views will also take place on the Pakistan-India question, for which we remain grateful for the role played by the US in de-escalation of tensions leading to ceasefire,” he added.
The meeting between Dar and Rubio is part of renewed efforts by the two sides to revive the structured dialogue between Pakistan and the US. The Biden administration completely ignored Pakistan and there had been no or little contacts at the level of foreign ministers.
However, contrary to expectations, bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US have seen a positive turnaround since President Donald Trump began his second term.
Pakistan’s cooperation to arrest one of the masterminds of Abbey Gate Bombing in Kabul in August 2021 led to the rapprochement. President Trump in his maiden address praised Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
What brought the two countries further close was the India-Pakistan conflict in May following the Pahalgam attack. While Pakistan acknowledged the Trump Administration’s positive role in brokering the ceasefire, India kept challenging the US claims.
Pakistan in order to make further inroads at the White House nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his courageous leadership and peace efforts in the subcontinent.
Regarding reports of the US-Pakistan dialogue including discussion on Jammu & Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the Spokesperson confirmed these issues remain central to Pakistan’s diplomatic agenda and are expected to be raised in the DPM/FM’s meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Asked about President Trump’s recent remarks about credit for defusing a near-nuclear crisis in South Asia, Khan said: “We have repeatedly acknowledged the role of friendly nations, including the US. The facts of that crisis are well known.”
